Display sign and method of making the same



Jan 13; 1953 M. H. PHlLLlPPl 2,624,967

DISPLAY SIGN AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Aug. 7, 1950 4 Shets-Sheefl FIG.

3nnentor Fl s. 5 MATTHEW H. PHILLIPPI Qttorneg Jan, 13, 1953 M. H. PHILLIPPI DISPLAY SIGN AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Aug. 7, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 BEADS (OF F 55 BEAN CLEAR ADHESIVE FLOICK PAINT FLOCK PAINT F l G. Zhwenfor MATTHEW H. PHILLIPPI Jan. 13, 953 M. H. PHlLLIPPl 2,624,967

DISPLAY SIGN AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Aug. 7, 1950 4 Sheet s-Sheet 3 w a. e

Zsnveutor MATTHEW H. PHILLIPP! (Ittorneg Jan. 13, 1953 M. H. PHILLlPPl 2,624,967

DISPLAY SIGN AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Aug. 7, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 3nnentor MATTHEW H. PHILLIPPI Gttorneg Patented Jan. 13, 1953 DISPLAY-SIGN AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Matthew H. Phillippi, St. Paul, Minn., assignor of twenty-four per cent each tnv Charles V. Welty and Howard L. Fischer, both of St. Paul, Minn.

Application August 7, 1950, Serial No. 178,124

2 Claims.

This invention relates to display signs and method of making the same, wherein the support for the sign oredisplay' iswire screen which permits air to pass through'the background of the sign, and thus forms a support for the'dis-' play with a low wind resistance,

A primary feature resides in the method of making a sign consisting in building up a display on a wire mesh as a background; The method includes first applying by screen stenciling or otherwise applying a layer of paint in color on translucent or transparent material, then applying a layer of rayon,'nylon, or cellulose flock which consists of fibrous members of any desired color, including fluorescent flock of a low moistureabsorbing nature; then applying another layer of paint, lacquer, or other adhesive material over the flock, then applying additional layers of flock and paint to complete the built up sign or display which is firmly secured to the wire mesh by the underlayer offiock, the fibers of which extend through and adhere to the back er the w r scre n t ereby an h r the play firmly tothe screen support.

A further feature of my invention resides in building up by my method a displaysign or decorative display, wherein the various layers of flock and paint which are, laid one upon the other may be offset to'provide a shading along the edge of the letter or configuration which forms the sign so that I am able by my method to ac tuate nd mak t e g q play sta ut n re ie Mr met o pe mits me to use a base flock of one color and then apply another layer of flock of a different color with the offset edges illustrating the different colored layers of nook, and then applying additional layers of different colored dock and paint, as well as minute light reflecting transparent glass beads which are eld imb d d. i t ev t l y o 'p nt a d floelc by reason of applying the beads before the pa n r lac e is. d y In th s ma ner I pr de a l ht efle tin isplay or sign havin an extremely attractive and decorative nature.

' The attractive nature of sign is enhanced by as fuzzy dge partic a y t sh d edge of t e. l t r c fi ures of the d spla T us, thev display may have, a black or red base fi over which a blue, yellow, or any other contrasting colored flock may be applied. Then over all of the layers of flock a different colored paint may be applied into which reflecting glass beads can be anchored before the last an: of paint is l'Y- re Parisre a ala sawsappears to be illuminated by reflecting light, shining'on'the same at night.

It is also a feature to provide a display or sign with a low wind resisting background, such as the wire mesh screen or cloth made of. suit; able weather resisting material, and to provide a display when supported in a field oralong, the highway, wherein the display appears to be supported in midair.

A further feature in the screen background resides in the flexible nature, of the same; "The screen background or. the sign may bemounted in any suitable manner by eyelets extending through the corners of the screen so that the wire may be wired or anchored to any suitable support;

A further feature of my display sign resides in applying various products directly upon'the" sign to cause the products to be adhered to the display, either in the letters forming the sign or to the display portions thereof, wherein such articles as coffee beans, wheat, corn, andother articles desired to be displayed bythesig'n may be imbedded in the display surfa'ce'of the same and which may be covered with a preserving and transparent lacquer in which glass, beads 'are imbeddedto accentuate'the displayat night with? light reflecting qualities which'mak'e' the sign" more visible at night. '1

A further feature resides in providing display signs which may be made up in sectionato illustrate different names or firms, and'pr'oviding a display rack in which the sections can be slid into place to form a collective display." In"thi s form, any one oithes'ectionsmay berem and a different name or display inserted therein? In this display sign, the wind'will not materially affect the same because of the open screenba'ckground, and eachsection' of thesc'reen' isa n; chored sufficiently to hold it in'place'ybutp'er mitting the sections to be removed by removing the anchoring means which hold it in plac'ei where the display is desired tribe tions are all put together on the billboard fence, the complete display is accomplished. This type of billboard permits the scenery back of the display to be visible through the screen of the display which enhances its appearance and overcomes the necessity of painting in a background of trees or other scenery. A display billboard of this character is very desirable because of its low wind resistance and because it takes advantage of the scenery in back of the display.

With this type of billboard display I can illustrate animals as if standing in a field. I can also show an automobile with the natural background scenery. These are just some of the examples of the possibilities of my billboard screen sign and display.

A further feature of my display sign resides in positioning one screen above the other or in front of the other, either in parallel relation or in angular relation to each other, and stenciling or painting a display on each of the screens. In carrying out this form of my display sign, the top or front screen is stenciled with a display preferably by colored paint which covers the wires of the screen in the forming of the display or stencil, but does not cover the open spaces between the crossing wires of the screen. I then stencil a design on the lower screen in a different colored paint or adhesive, and before the same is dry I dust on the paint or adhesive small glass beads which adhere to the paint and become partially imbedded therein so as to form part of the sign or display.

This last display or sign is made up of one or more layers of screen which are secured together in parallel or angular relation to each other. When this sign is put on display, the display stenciled on the front screen will be ordinarily the only sign or display that is visible; however, if a beam of light is directed against this double sign, the glass beads on the back screen will reflect the light (such as the light from automobile headlights) and the front display will not be visible.

In this manner, I have developed a display having atwo-fold utility, wherein the front display is visible ordinarily in the daylight and the back display is visible at night when light is reflected against the same. It will be apparent that the reflecting light against this screen will extend through the open mesh of the front screen and permit the back screen to be brilliantly visible. The drawings illustrate the various figures which I have employed to show the manner in which I carry out my method of making my displays and assist in describing the same.

Figure 1 is a digrammatic illustration of a display formed on a wire screen support or background and illustrates the shading along one edge of the letters.

Figure 2 illustrates a section of wire screen showing the first step of my process where the adhesive, paint r lacquer is first applied to the wire mesh, and then a layer of fibrous fiock is applied.

-Figure 3 illustrates a detail of a section of screen wire showing the next step of my method where an additional layer of paint and flock is applied.

Figure 4 illustrates the next step of my method which I employ in finishing the sign or display and illustrates the manner in which the final layer is applied over the first layers showing the offsetting of the same so as to illustrate a marginal shading by the various formerly applied layers of paint and flock.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic enlarged section through several of the wires which form the wire screen and which show the flock and adhesive layers built up on the wires to form a finished display surface on one side of the wire mesh.

Figure 6 illustrates an enlarged section of one of the wires of the wire screen or mesh showing the manner in which glass light reflecting beads can be adhered around the entire surface of each wire of the screen. This step of the process may be employed before layers of flock are applied to the surface of the mesh. Thus, the entire wires of the background of the sign may be covered with glass light reflecting beads to reflect the colored paint or enamel that has been applied to the screen or wire before the beads are secured thereto.

Figure 7 illustrates a display sign made by my process showing some suitable advertising subject-matter, and where the layers of flock and paint or colors are in complete registry, one with each other, so that a sharp, defined border is accomplished without any shading of the letters.

Figure 8 illustrates an enlarged section similar to Figure 5, showing the various steps of my process in which a layer of flock is the final covering employed on the face of the display.

Figure 9 is a similar section to Figure 8, illustrating another series of steps in my process of making a display sign.

Figure 10 is a small detail showing the surface of a sign on the wire mesh, wherein coifee beans are adhered to the same and which are covered with glass beads, the actual coffee beans being secured by lacquer, which seals the same to the surface of the sign, and before the lacquer is dry, a layer of fine light reflecting beads is imbedded in the lacquer.

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail section of the wires of the sign illustrated in Figure 10 in which the coffee beans are illustrated sealed to the surface of the sign.

Figure 12 is a small detail of the wire mesh sign showing kernels of wheat sealed to the surface of the sign in the same manner as the coffee beans are sealed in Figures 10 and 11.

Figure 13 illustrates another detail portion of my wire mesh sign showing particles of coal sealed into the surface of the sign with the glass beads imbedded in the sealing lacquer which covers the particles of coal.

Figure 14 illustrates an outdoor billboard of my sectional display sign which is made up by my method and which is adapted to be set up and displayed out-of-doors where the background scenery can be taken advantage of, owing to the nature of the open wire mesh of my screen sign, and showing the sections attached to a wire fence background which is supported by suitable members anchored and braced in the ground.

Figure 15 illustrates another outdoor sign wherein the sections of the sign may be supported in channels formed in the frame of the sign so that the individual sections may be slid into or out of the channel supporting frame whenever it is desirable.

Figure 16 is a section on the line lfii6 of Figure 15.

Figure 17 illustrates the top sheet of screen wire on which has been stenciled in paint the word ACE.

Figure 18 is the wire screen on which the word 5. -BEER has been stenciled and. wh re n. mall glass beads have been secured in the paintor adhesive. before the, same is, dry.

Figure 19 illustrates the completed sigrr made up of the screen shown in, Figures 17 and; is which are secured together with the screen shown in Figure 17 on top of thev screen shown in Figure 18.

Figure 20 illustrates. an enlarged detailed por tion of the A shown in the screen illustrated in Figure 17.

Figure 21 illustrates an enlarged detailed portion of the screen showing part of the letter B of the screen shown in Figure 18.

Figure 22 illustrates the sheets shown in Figure 17 and 18 hinged together at the top and with the sheets of the screen showing the words ACE on the front screen and BEER on the back screen and formed of; a single, piece of screen which may be folded at the top to form an easellilze. display as illustrated.

In making up my display signs I employ a wire screen It for a supporting background for the sign or display as illustrated in Figurev l. The wire screen l may be of the ordinarytype used on screen doors and windows, and in fact my signs may be made up for screen doors, windows or the like where screen is employed. However, I have found that my sign has particular advantages as an outdoor display sign owing to its low wind resistance. and the. advantages that are ob tained by permitting the, background scenery te be, clearly visible through the wire screen around and between the display formed on the screen Hi.

In carrying out my process, the first step of my method is to apply a clear lacquer l i, a colored paint, Or any suitable adhesive material which maybe stenciled by silk screen process on the wire mesh H) in the form of a display as partially illustrated in Figure 2 and as shown by the complete sign illustrated in Figure 1.

The second step of my method resides in dusting any suitable color of fibrous flock I? on to the adhesive or paint ll before it is dry so as to cause the flock to adhere to the screen where the adhesive or paint has been applied. The first application of the flock to the wires it of the screen It) is rather thin and projects between the wires owing to the fact that the adhesive H,

which may be any suitable color or may be transparent, runs around the wires l3 even though the same is applied to one surface of the screen it) by silk screen process. This provides an advantage in laying down a base layer of fibrous flock l2 owing to the fact that the flock clings around the wires sufiiciently to anchor the display to the individual wires of the. screen iii.

In applying the adhesive l l to the surfaces of the wires l3 of the screen it the same may practically extend around the wires l3 where it is stenciled on to the same, and thus the base layer of flock l2 will firmly adhere around the wires :3. In this manner I establish a base covering for my display sign over the wires which are covered by the finished sign, and this base covering of flock acts as an anchoring means to hold the display sign firmly to the wire mesh iii.

I the e p o my me hod pp y a layer it of; adhesive, which may be paint or lacquer of any color, over the base layer of flock l2, and ever this layer of adhesive i l I dust another layer of flock l5 which completes the next step o my m thod whi h s. illust ated die 'amma ic lly n Figure 3.- This step of. process, wh ch I have j st ib d in he ppli a ion of h adhesive.

6: la er l endin lusti g on. 02: he: deck:- ii.v is a ried utby s it nsr he. ills: screen i ntlr to ofiset hesem al ne; h cds w r .lde ire to accentuate by shading. This permitsamars n sha in o th e ter y" d shes: n h 12 whi h i pr fera y o a di ierent: q lortban. he. c nd ay r.- Qf: l ck. it.

The extstep my pr c ss. is ar ied out; by ap y n a oat: or paint. acquer; or. adhe y of. anysuitabl co er' uch. as. It, w ich is of set out ire ry w th hefirs and secondlayers. 0i. floc an 5; andwhi e. t s layer of dh si e I6 is m s i: w t, I-dust tothe urfac i. th same li ht reflectina assv beads- H wh c becom m ed ed niq he dhes ve [6 uf c ently o h r ly nchor: herefie t ns; beads Hi to th uri c o the; letters of the. disp ay en. A illustrated in Figure; 1

Ther i a i ll. a parent. n, carry n ou the fier nt ste s; 01 y: p oc s; he esire. to sha n d e. h ett rs f-display; ol't si n, a a h. layer is, shiited. n ici nt y t carr the app ication, 0 5: the adh si t one id s tha lo e he. haded edge the; ol rs Q J he various layers of flock will appearwhich material; 1y enha s th haract r f. th letters and the display. Thiswillbe; apparent t we say that h lower layer of flock I2 is red; then the nextlayerifi ck it may e bl eand he next lay r of paint it may be white. Thus, along the shaded edge of the letters the colors; red, blue, and white will app a T is qntrast -c lor alo t eshs ed edge of the letters makesthe letters; of the, sign stand out in relief, and as a matter of; fact, the letters of the sign are builtup to, such an extent that the top surface of; the, letters are elevated in relief above the surface, of the wire, screen. Id which supports the. same.

In this manner I provide a. display sign of, a very attractive nature when it is viewed in the daytime, and when the sign is, viewed at night, the las li ht refl t n beads will reflect a light shown against the same so, as to provide a brilliant display either by day or night.

The wires of the screen mesh [0 may be com.-v pletely coated with reflecting beads I! which are deposited on the wet paint covering; the wire strands to make a completely reflective b.ack-. ground for the si n. The paint may be of any color. The cross section of; the wire. having the paint and heads is illustrated in Figure. 6. of the draw n s.

T e me h d onsists. in, lk. c eeni or app y: ins a color or cl ar adh sive onto. e Screen (which forms the. background and support) and dusting into the. wet colored or clear adhesive rayon, cellulose, nylon, fluorescent. or non-fluo-. rescent flock. Wood flour may be. used to dust into thev wet adhesive, as well as sawdust and clear or transparent, light reflecting glass beads, or the beads may be made of another material uch s L ite.

The method h r nclu e build nsup f la ers. of; adhes v nd. flock and ppi 0 f th last; layer of he, adhesive. with a colored adhesive p int; a d. ith 0 Wi ho t u facin of lass be s d pendin unon wh the he. sign or di pl y s the urpose o r flectin li ht di c a ainst th same or ii; a. fluor s e t dock.- is. des r d which a o c l ec s and ives 0d a sl win light.

It i esir bl that th deck used be of: a low moisture absorbing nature so that my displays or igns will. wi hstand the. weather gree water and rain and moisture in the air. I have found that the rain will ordinarily wash off my displays to keep them brilliant for a long period of time.

In Figure '7, I have illustrated a sign where the letters of the sign are not shaded along one edge as is illustrated in the sign shown in Figure l. The sign illustrated in Figure '7 is finished with an upstanding flock l8 as illustrated in the enlarged cross section in Figure 8. This gives the surface of the sign a soft velvet-like texture, and when the upstanding flock I8 is of a fluorescent character, it makes a very brilliant display sign.

In Figure 9, I have illustrated an enlarged cross section to show the foundation flock l2 over which a brilliant aluminum paint is is covered. While the paint [9 is wet, I dust on a layer of cellophane spangles 20 (small flakes of cellophane) which intensify the brilliance. Then the next step of my process in finishing the sign illustrated in cross sectional detail in Figure 9 is to apply a transparent adhesive 2i over the cellophane spangles 20, and while the adhesive 2| is wet, I imbed a surface of small transparent glass reflecting beads 22.

It will be apparent that in carrying out my process, between each application of adhesive, then flock, then adhesive, and then more flock or other material to build up the difierent layers, it is necessary that each layer dry sufficiently to receive the next layer so that when the sign is completed, it will have a durable nature.

If it is desired to illustrate a product on the surface of the display or sign, this may be done by imbedding such articles as coffee beans or ground coffee 23. It is also apparent that such articles as wheat 24 may be imbedded into the surface of my display, and also particles of coal 25. These are just a small example of the variations of my display which may be carried out by my method of building up an ultimate display with an attractive nature and having a brilliant finish which is sharply visible during the day and at night when light is reflected against the same.

A further development of my display resides in forming the same in the sections B illustrated in Figure 14, which shows an outdoor billboard C made up of a series of vertical frame members 28 which may be made of pipe, or other suitable frame members. These vertical members 28 may be set in concrete in the ground and may be connected by horiontal members 21. The members 21 are provided with adjustable members 28 which are threaded or otherwise attached so that the frame of the sign may be adjusted. The upright members 26 may also be provided with similar adjusting'members 28. These adjusting members are for the purpose of stretching the surface of the display sign taut to give a smooth display surface.

The billboard C illustrated in Figure 14 is preferably made up of the frame members 26 and 2? and such other members as may be necessary to make a strong frame, but which are not illustrated in the drawing. As a support for the sections B which make up the decorative sign or display, I provide a wire fencing 29 which is firm- 1y secured to the frame members 26 and 21 of the sign. The open fence-like mesh wire portion 29 acts as a foundation on which the screen sections B are mounted or anchored in any suitable manner.

Each section B of the billboard C may be formed with corner eyelets 30 to permit the sections to be secured to the wire 29. Further, the sections B may be connected together overlapping the budding edges of the adjacent sections.

Therefore, it will be apparent that my wire screen display sign may be used in making up an outdoor billboard or any other sign which reduces the wind resistance owing to the open wire mesh [0 used for supporting my display and upon which the same is built up. Further, the background scenery may be sufliciently visible through the billboard C so as to add an attractive characte' to any outdoor display which is made up by my process and method. This is illustrated by the tree shown in Figure 14 which is behind the billboard C.

My sectional signs may be made in units D, which are adapted to be supported by a suitable frame made up of vertical members (H which may be anchored in the ground and which are connected by the channel-shaped cross members 32. In this manner I provide a sectional sign with the units D slid into place in the channels 32 and anchored in any suitable manner. The units D are removeable for reprocessing or to permit changing the illustration appearing on the units D. Each of the units D of the sectional sign shown in Figure 15 are processed by my method heretofore described, and the illustrations on the same are built up on the screen wire IE].

The signs illustrated in Figures 15 and 3.6 are adapted for use where it is desired to illustrate a number of different names on the same sign or several messages on the same general sign held by the frame. Signs of this character are used at lake homes and are placed on the highway back from the cottages and are adapted to indicate the names of the different people residing down at the lake in a certain community. Then again a sign of this character may be used for any purpose along the highway. It is a feature to provide a sign of the character shown in Fig ures 15 and 16 which includes the changeable sign sections D.

The individual signs may be formed with a bound metal edge, like turning the edge of calendars, or the edge of the screen itself may be doubled back in a single or double seam, and while neither of these edgings are shown in the drawings, it is obvious that such binding may be used to finish the edges of the individual sections B or D.

In the billboard sign illustrated in Figure 14, an illustration of a cow is shown, and any advertising wording may be also applied as well as the slogan, Drink More Milk, or any other indicia or illustrations.

It will be apparent that the outstanding features of my method reside in the manner of building up a sign on a screen wire support with the under-layer of adhesive and flock extending around the wires of the screen so as to firmly anchor the display to the same. After the base layer has been completed by my method, any number of layers may be applied over the base layer and any colors may be employed to give a sign or illustration of an attractive contrasting nature, either for the shading of the letters or illustrations or to accentuate one portion of the sign from another. A further feature resides in a sign made of wire mesh on which the illustrations are formed by painting, stenciling, or in any manner building up the illustrations, pictures, wording or other features desired to be shown on the sign. Illustrations and signs made by this process and method have a very attractive nature 9 owing to the fact that they appear to be in relief and the texture of the illustration is of a pleasing nature. It is important that they are also visible at night by light reflection.

A further feature of importance is that my method may be employed to build up a large sign made up in sections which will fit together on a billboard or support to give a complete large illustration of the desired nature.

A further feature which has also been set forth includes the low wind resistance of a sign of this character owing to the fact that the screen provides an open mesh through which the air may readily pass. The size of the mesh used in carrying out my method is determined when the method is executed and may be of any nature adaptable to the particular sign desired.

Further, small sections may be made which can be used individually as pointed out in Figures and 16, or the signs may be processed and completed on screen doors of merchandising stores.

My method also includes the building up of a sign on either side of the screen. While I have only illustrated the forming of a sign on one side of the screen, it is obvious that the same process may be employed to build up an illustration or sign on the opposite side of the screen so that the sign may have a double function, namely that it may be read from either side or that it may hang transversely of the highway to illustrate a different or the same sign on both sides thereof.

My signs are particularly adaptable to be attached to farm fences along the highway, and

when the glass beads are used on the top surface thereof, these signs will appear to be illuminated as automobile lights shine on the same at night. Any movement of the fence on which the signs are attached will add to the attractiveness of the sign which moves with the fence and thus attracts the eye of the observer.

In the drawings, in Figures 17 to 22 inclusive, I have illustrated another form of my display which includes two or more sheets of wire screen, such as 35 and 35. The sheet 35 forms the top surface or portion of the sign E. In this form of my display the front screen 35 is adapted to carry a display of any desired nature such as I have illustrated by the indicia ACE to indicate the word ACE formed by the letters 31. On the Wire screen 36 I stencil or paint indicia or display formed by the letters 38 which, in this case, spell the word BEER. In forming the display in sheet 36, it is desirable that minute transparent glass light reflecting beads be dusted on to the wet paint or adhesive which make up the display 38 before the same is dry so that the glass beads will adhere to the painted surface of the screen and thus provide a light reflecting means which enhances the brilliance of my display sign E.

The sign E is made up of the front screen sheet 35 and the rear screen sheet 35 and these sheets are adapted to be bound together by the marginal binding 39 which may be of plastic, metal, or any other suitable binding means adapted to form a finished edge around the sign It will also be apparent that the indicia or display 37 and the display 33 on the respective screens 35 and 36 may be made in any suitable color to provide a contrast in relation to the background or screen mesh of the sheets 35 and 3'5 and to also make the display more attractive.

Figure illustrates a small enlarged section of the screen showing a portion of the indicia 10 letter A which is indicated as the display 31 and showing more clearly the manner in which the display adheres to the'wires '43 of the screen. I have also shown in Figure 21 thewires 4!! of the screen sheet 35 in enlargedform and indicating the 'indi'cia display '38 adhered to the wires.

In each instance where a display of this character is made, it is desirable that an open space remains between the crossing wires it of the sheets 35 and 35 where it is desirable to-permit the sheets in the rear of the front sheet 35 to be visible; however, the display on the rear sheet 33 may be opaqued over its entire surface if it is desired, which wiil accentuate the display on the rear sheet 38 under certain light conditions.

A further feature of this form of my display will be apparent in that in the first case the sign E is made up of the two sheets 35 and 33 which are bound together by the marginal finishing edge 39, and the sheets 35 and 36 virtually lie in parallel relation to each other, either close together or spaced apart as may be desired to give the most effective display.

In the display sign F, illustrated in Figure 22, the sheets 35 and 35 are integral but are hinged or joined together along the top edge il which permits the lower free edges 42 of the respective sheets to be spaced apart in a manner to form an easel display as illustrated.

A further feature of my display resides in the attractive nature of the same which is apparent when either sign E or F are viewed from different angles under varying light conditions. I have found in my observation of my signs under different positions and under varying reflecting lights, that either the display on the front sheet 35 will be visible without showing the display on the sheet 36, or in other cases both displays will be visible to the eye when viewing the signs E and F from difierent angles.

Therefore, it will be apparent that a very attractive display sign may be made up by my method and process and the combination of various sheets of screen material.

It is also apparent that the screen material may be made of wire in various colors Or screen material made of cloth and such other material as acetate, some of which is known as Nylon and Vinylite, and other similar products known by the various trade names to designate the particular product. In each case, the screen used in making my display sign is visible and is formed with open spaces between the strands, wires, or members forming the screen.

I claim:

1. A sign comprising a Wire mesh, a layer of colored flock adhered to said wire mesh to form an anchoring base for the sign, a plurality of layers of decorative material disposed upon said base forming a decorative surface projecting from the surface of said wire mesh base, each decora tive layer laid on above said base layer of flock being offset to provide a decorative marginal shading edge, and a top decorative layer of a contrasting color from that of the lower layers and having a series of light reflecting glass beads imbedded therein to cause the sign to be visible at night when light is reflected on the same.

2. A sign including a stiif mesh base, a coating of adhesive material applied to said mesh, a coat ing of flock applied to said adhesive in the decorative design desired, a second coating of adhesive applied over said flock, a second coating of flock applied to said second coat of adhesive in offset relation to the desired edge of said first coat of flock to produce a shading effect, a final UNITED STATES PATENTS coat of adhesive applied over said second coat of Number Name Date flock, and a coating of small glass light reflecting 998,952 Boone July 25) 1911 beads applied to said last coat of adhesive to 2,354,018 Heltzer Ju1y 13 1944 provide an irregular surfaced reflective shaded 5 2384951 Mmar Sept 18. 1945 sign in relief having a Wide angularity of light entrance and reflection to and from said beads. FOREIGN PATENTS MATTHEW H. PHILLIPPI. Number Country Date 306,249 Italy Mar. 2, 1933 REFERENCES CITED 10 The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

